MHC-I affects infection intensity but not infection status with a frequent avian malaria parasite in blue tits.

ABSTRACT: Host resistance against parasites depends on three aspects: the ability to prevent, control and clear infections. In vertebrates the immune system consists of innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is particularly important for preventing infection and eradicating established infections at an early stage while adaptive immunity is slow, but powerful, and essential for controlling infection intensities and eventually clearing infections. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules are central in adaptive immunity, and studies on parasite resistance and MHC in wild animals have found effects on both infection intensity (parasite load) and infection status (infected or not). It seems MHC can affect both the ability to control infection intensities and the ability to clear infectio

SUBMITTER: Westerdahl H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3758318 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature